Two matches in a week, and what a difference in the two games. On Tuesday, we had five goals and a game with so many chances that it was a surprise that there weren’t more. In this one, there were very few chances, and one solitary goal decided the destination of the three points. That’s not to say it wasn’t interesting, and the outcome was in doubt for most of the match, but let’s just say it wasn’t the most entertaining game I’ve ever seen.

I guess the visitors won’t worry too much about that as they took the three points that take them up to a creditable eighth place, while The Bridge remains in 17th, five points clear of 18th-placed Sawbridgeworth Town, whom we face next.

In a game of few chances, there wasn’t one for quite some time as the first half got underway, and Connor Hart had a shot blocked, this being the first action of note. For quite some time, that was all we saw of The Bridge as an attacking threat, as most of the goal attempts came from the visitors, although most of those didn’t threaten the Hullbridge goal very much. Liam Riley’s shot was tipped wide by Dom Alexandru, and from the corner, there was an off-target attempt by Darren Mills. Daniel Rowe had a shot blocked, and then Mills scuffed his shot/cross, and it was easily picked up by Alexandru.

Piers Hatcliff was having a quiet game by his standards but did produce a cross that missed everybody as it drifted wide. Mills was leading the Oakley front line and looking most likely to threaten goal, and his next shot at goal went over the bar. Meanwhile, Connor Hart had another shot blocked as both teams battled to get the upper hand.

Finally, there was something on target as Liam Riley’s cross was headed goalward by Bobby Badham, but it was easily held by Alexandru. A succession of corners were either cleared by the defences or missed their intended target, and then the game deciding goal came from another corner as Bobby Badham’s in swinger was unluckily pushed into the net by keeper Alexandru. Dom has been a bit of a revelation since becoming The Bridge number one, so this was a bit of an unusual moment for him, but such is the life of a goalkeeper, and sometimes these things happen.

There was little further action before the half ended, but Daniel Rowe did hit the post with a decent effort, and Darnell Williams’ overhead attempt was blocked as the half ended 0-1.

To be honest, both teams weren’t at their best, so it was probably no surprise that the fortunate or unfortunate corner, depending on which side you’re on, decided the game. As mentioned, Piers Hatcliff had been unusually quiet in the first half, but he did his best to drag The Bridge back into it in the second, and when he was fouled on the edge of the box, unfortunately for The Bridge, the resultant kick was blocked. Piers was soon in action again as his shot went over the bar before Callum Knowlden went close with a header from a Jack Nolde corner, but Callum’s header was saved by keeper Billy Lawlor.

Most of the action after that saw Little Oakley on the attack, although mostly it was not dangerous, and the score didn’t look like increasing at any point. A couple of Oakley free kicks went harmlessly by, and further Oakley forays into the Hullbridge area were dealt with by the Bridge back line before a decent cross by Luke Hipkin missed everyone as it flashed across the goalmouth.

The next piece of action was probably the most significant of the second half as a Jack Nolde free kick beat the wall and keeper Lawlor but bounced back off the post. I’m not sure how, but I missed who put the rebound in the net, but the Lino didn’t and flagged the ‘goal’ offside. As ever, opinions differed, but some thought the goal should have stood, but after consulting his linesman, the referee didn’t, and offside was the verdict. Jake Wiggins was sin-binned in the aftermath of that decision, and that effectively ended the game for him with the 10-minute punishment.

There wasn’t much time left for further action and, despite a couple of efforts from Piers and Darnell and a Bobby Badham free kick, the 0-1 score became the result. The game, as most will know, was marred by a nasty injury to Callum Knowlden, with the game stopped and Callum eventually stretchered off after lengthy treatment. Luckily, the injury may not be as bad as it first looked, but Callum will miss further games on top of the ones he missed at the start of the season due to injury. We wish him well and look forward to his return to action.

1-1 would probably have been a fair result, but Oakley had done their job and continued their decent season with this away victory. As for The Bridge, not one of our better days but we move onto the next one at Sawbo which is a big, big game although defeats for Sawbo and Stansted in tough games against high-flyers Stanway and Takeley was good news for us and maintained the gap whilst ticking off another match.

As I said in my last report, we know it’s not over yet, but the finish line is in sight, and a draw at Sawbo on Saturday would be well handy, as they say. Keep the faith, keep your nerve. We don’t think it’s all over, it isn’t now but it could be soon because, as always…



Connor is always happy to play where the team needs him, and he did so again today, starting in midfield and also filling in at the back. He did his best to drag The Bridge back into the game in another assured performance on a day when The Bridge were probably not at their best.